The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-30

IT is admitted by men Of every shade
of political opinion that, measures must
be taken during the coming session Of
Congress to reduce the surplus in the Ma
tional treasury, and prevent its further
accumulation in the future. On this
question parties have already divided
Republicans hold as rule that, the rev
enues 10 carry on the government, sustain
the army and navy, pay pensions, etc,
should be mainly, If not entirely collected
from foreign imports. so arranged by a
tariff of duties as 10 discriminate in favor
of and protect our home manufacturers
and laborers, while the Democrats pro-
pose TO continue the war taxes placed up
on liquors and tobacco, scale down the
duties on foreign imports, and place raw
materials on the free list. In other
words, the question is really narrowed
down to this. Shall the excessive duties,
which amount 20 one hundred million Of
dollars. be stricken off of liquors and to-
bacco, or shall it be taken from the duties
on imported articles which come in com
petition with the product Of our own la
bor? There is vast deal said and writ
ten on this subject much Of it intended
10 confuse, and appeal TO personal preiu-
dice and personal interests, and great
stress is laid upon the assertion that un-
taxed. cheap raw material viii necessari-
ly cheaper the manufactured product.
admit # freer competition with foreign
products, and also permit reduction Of
duties. Admit this TO be true Are not
the delivers in our coal and iron mines,
the hewers Of wood, the wool growers,
and producers of other raw material as
much entitled to protective duties on their
labor a. those who use these raw mater
ials in their manufactures Free raw ma
ierial means lower wages, perhaps ruin,
10 those employed in producing them for
the market, and what matters it TO these
people if some articles 0f living are slight
ly reduced in price that reduction comes
fA tie ttbhutA ~ tiitii id'bEr VI thSh
ability to purchase them is destroyed.
The proposition to place raw material on
the free lists, is proposition TO compel
this class of wage workers to compete
with i'll paid foreign labor. for the bene-
til OF the skilled class of wage earners.
This question also deeply concerns the
agriculmrists OF the country, by decreas-
ing the purchasing caiacity Of the home
labor and the consumers in the home
market. Apart tnIni all this. the protec-
tive policy is essentially personal and
selfish one. and one class Of producers
should MOI and cannot be protected at
the expense 81 another All must stand
together or all fall together. Once allow
the entering wedge 10 be driven and the
structure viii topple 10 its fall, and none
know this better than the Free-traders.
Hence their appeal 10 the selfish inter
esis of the manufacturer in behalf OF free
raw material. and this entering wedge
being driven home their hope that the
laboners thus lespoiled will turn upon
and nend their despoilers, the manufae
turers. The only safety for protection
Cor sil our industries is to stand together.
a 10 the Knights of labor in behalf of
their eo@ss0H interests The time is here
for the labor interests Of the country to
make their choice and ie4 their voices be
heard, As between retaining the war taxes
on liquors and tobacco. or the tariff duties
that protect their labor and the indus
tries I'd tbecsnntry